The Secret Origins of Mint Condition: Comics, Movies, TV, Sports, Gaming and more

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso  Yes, it's been a while. Kinda like Brian Cashman finding quality starting pitching, but the boys are back with another Sports Short. Join your hosts Joe, and Arco (subbing for Chris) as the boys preview the 2023 NFL season. Like Brett Favre on a good day, Arco unleashes a bomb downfield that clearly illustrates his fervor and acumen for America's pastime....

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso   If "one is the loneliest number" (apologies to Three Dog Night), then two has to be better. Right? Sure it is. The number two is the smallest, and only, even prime number, but more importantly, it's a symbol of teamwork, service, love, and friendship. Now after two years, and more than 150 episodes of The Secret Origins of Mintcondition wending its...

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso   Our fascination with pop culture affords us many pleasures. We get to regularly experience stories of wonder, excitement, and hope. We gape in awe at the images that leap from the minds and souls of creatives that transport us to "strange new worlds", and "never-ending battles". But perhaps the greatest pleasure derived from our immersion in...

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso: It's Wednesday! It's new comic book day! Stand clear of the back door at Mint!  At any moment it could fly open and bounding in will be the top Marvel aficionado of Port Washington--Arco!    Once again your hosts James and Joe are joined by our good friend, and comics connoisseur, Arco.   As Walter is preparing Arco's lunch next door at Hinck's De...

Show Notes Provided by Jack Adrian The '80s! The magical decade that invented excess. Too much was never enough, and that included animated television series, which exploded in the '80s. But one show stood above the rest. For 130 episodes that aired from 1985 through 1989, a group of cat-like humanoid aliens taught a generation the importance of Justice, Truth, Honor, and Loyalty. Reminisc...

Warning Spoilers ahead. The J-Crew of James, Joe, Josh Bernhard and John Whittemore returns to the bridge of the U.S.S. Mint Condition-A to explore and discuss Strange New Worlds Season 2 episodes 1-5. They talk all about is Spock too human? Is Vulcan society a matriarch, Do modern effects take away from a scene or add to it and of course more discussion about the new James T. Kirk.

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso In recent years the budgets for summertime Hollywood blockbusters have grown to burgeoning proportions. But unfortunately, big investments do not always lead to big returns. Does a 300 million dollar budget, for a current CBM, guarantee a boffo box office, and--more importantly--an emotional connection to an audience?  Or is all that money just producing prosaic c...

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso   We wouldn't be here, on this podcast, if we weren't fans. We are dedicated enthusiasts of comics, Sci-fi, TV, movies, games, music, and of course, sports. No one in our circle denies the reality of our passion, but can anyone in our sphere call themselves a super-fan? Ponder that question as you are about to spend an hour with writer, producer, publisher...

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso In 1986 almost fifty years of Superman lore and continuity were about to be consigned to posterity, and a new legacy was to be initiated by the top creator in the comic book medium of the time--JOHN BYRNE! Gone were the silliness of the sixties and the confusing constancy of the seventies.    Byrne's arrival as the new raconteur of "The Last Son of Krypto...

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso   On June 12th of this year, the pop culture universe lost the light of another star as John Romita Sr. passed away. Visionary creator, artist, and storyteller, John left a legacy of family, friends, and admirers. Join your humble hosts, James, Chris, and Joe as they respectfully celebrate the man and his incredible volume of work he so graciously shared with the...

 Show notes provided by Joe Peluso Once upon a time Barry Allen sacrificed himself to save the universe..."  Wally West, Flash vol2, #74.     In the summer of 1985 the devotees of DC Comics were shocked and horrified when their beloved speedster, The Flash, heroically gave his life to save everyone! His young nephew picked up the mantle of his fallen hero and ran proudly with it into a world...

Go AFC Richmond! Welcome to this week's episode of The Secret Origins and Mint Condition, where James is joined by Jack talk about all things Ted Lasso. Spoiler Warning!!! They talk about the entire three seasons, going over all the major character and storylines. If you are interested in watching the show maybe wait on this episode, if you were were not sure about watching this show then mayb...

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso  Once again the Mint crew finds themselves in the "back of the store" chatting up all things pop-culture. Such "erudite" topics as a definitive Batman reading list and how many Superman villains can you name James, Chris, and Joe are discussed with the usual passion and expertise. Or is Joe just making stuff up with his inclusion of Terra-Man a...

You are tasked with bringing down the curtain on arguably the best-known fictional character of the twentieth century. You turn to the icon's creator to pen the finale. Unfortunately, he is unable to accept the assignment. Fate intervenes over coffee and scones and delivers a legendary creative to escort your "man of steel" into a four-color sunset. Your name is Julius Schwartz, your cha...

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso Batman--Batman--Can somebody tell what kind of world we live in, where a man dressed up as a bat gets all my press?'  The Joker, as portrayed by Jack Nicholson, in Tim Burton's--Batman.     The year was 1989: The Berlin Wall comes down! Phil Collins and Janet Jackson top the charts! Nintendo releases the Game Boy in Japan! And the long-awaited Tim Burton/M...

Show notes provided by Joe Peluso: "As my old pappy used to say, work is fine for killin' time, but it's a shaky way to make a living." Brett Maverick as portrayed by the great James Garner And WORK they did!  From James Garner to Lorne Greene, from Michael Landon to Clint Walker, from Miss Barbara Stanwyck to Melody Patterson, the working actors of Hollywood turned the scripts of numerous wr...

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso We're back! (In the back of the store that is.) Gotta open that back door to Mint and allow the welcoming winds of late spring to waft through the establishment and bring not only cool air but once again cool conversations.    Join your hosts, James, Chris, and Joe--and returning special guest host Adrienne Garofalo--for another lively hour of cheerful chats a...

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso Feeling tired, run-down? Are you a victim of that mid-day sugar crash? Do you turn to caffeine, chocolate--Five Hour Energy--to rescue your day? Save your money and your insides. Instead, pick up a comic book written by Jeremy Adams! Your daily doldrums will instantly disappear! And if you can't get to your LCS, then listen to this special episode of The Secre...

Show Notes Provided by Joe Peluso   Securely moored to its berth in the spanking new Space Dock is the USS Mint Condition. Seated in the spacious observation lounge are your hosts, James, Josh, and Joe. And joining them once again for good conversation (and maybe a nip or two of Saurian Brandy) is returning guest, New York Times Best Selling Author--Michael Jan Friedman.     The guys settle in for...

This is the first episode in new a new segment of the show called "Tales from the Back Issue Bin Book Club" the title might be a little long, so if anyone has other suggestions I'm open to them. Anyway this segment will focus in a specific graphic novel or the occasional issue. Our first pick, inspired by Joe's favorite comic book story of all time is the 1986 classic written by...

In this special episode James talks with his friend Tom Payne. Tom is one of the most dedicated, passionate, optimistic and inspiring people you'll ever meet, there just isn't enough room on Earth to fit his big heart. He wears many hats as fitness coach, personal trainer, martial artist, and DJ/rapper. He is a student of learning. He is continuously training - not just for himself, but to...

In this May the 4th Special Edition, James, Joe, Chris and guest Josh Bernhard (host of Trash Compactor: A Mostly Star Wars Podcast) talk about probably one of the most debated Star Wars movies "The Last Jedi".

On this May the 4th Eve we are proud to present a Bonus Pod Edition from out cousin podcast Trash Compactor: A (Mostly) Star Wars Podcast. Josh is joined by childhood friends CHRIS and JAMES to watch the original STAR WARS (aka "Episode 4: A New Hope") for the first time in ages. As kids who first experienced Star Wars on VHS in the 1990s, they discuss what they notice about the film tod...

This is it, the crew of the USS Mint Condition James, John, Joe and Josh have made it to safely to space dock where they talked about episode 10 of Picard season 3 "The Last Generation" as well as wrap up the entire series as a whole.

It's a rare weekend afternoon where James is alone in the back of the store, while he is catching up on inventory, wondering how many copies do we have Jim Lee's X-Men #1 in the basement in walks friend of the show Josh Murray. The two quickly dive into talking about The Mandalorian Season 3. Touching on the highlights and maybe some of the questions they both had about the pacing and tone...